Shower bath curtains



1957 A. .1. RONDINELLI SHOWER BATH CURTAINS Filed Aug. 14, 1955 FIG.

FIG.3

INVENTOR ALFRED J. RONDINELLI BY 6% @.W

. ATTORNEY.

United' Sitates Patent SHOWER BATH CURTAINS Alfred J. Rondinelli, Philadelphia, Pa. Application August 14, 1953, Serial No. 374,335

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-449 This invention relates to shower bath curtains, and it relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of a curtain adapted for use in connection with ordinary bath tubs which are equipped with shower fixtures.

Ordinarily, shower bath curtains used in connection with bath tubs are suspended from a rod mounted at a suitable height above the outside rim or edge portion of the tub. in the proper use of such curtains the lower portion is placed within the tub so that any of the spray water which impinges against the curtain from the shower will run down on the inside of the curtain and be drained within the tub.

However, it frequently happens that persons inexperienced "in the use of shower baths will place the lower part of the curtain on the outside of the tub, and furthermore, it sometimes happens that air currents set up by the spray of the shower will blow the curtain so that the lower portion thereof will be displaced to the outside of the tub, and in either such event, the drainage will pass downwardly on to the floor of the bathroom sometimes in quantities sufiicient to cause considerable damage.

The principal object therefore of the present invention is to provide a shower curtain so constructed and arranged that any water which impinges against the inner surface of the curtain will be drained inwardly to the inside of the tub, the curtain being so constructed and arranged that the same will more or less automatically position itself to insure the proper positioning of the curtain for the intended purpose.

The nature and characteristic features of the present invention will be readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, illustrating a conventional type of bath tub having associated therewith a shower curtain embodying the main features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation-a1 view, looking from the inside of the tub, illustrating a portion of the curtain of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on a line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and enlarged; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of a series of supporting members used in the curtain.

it should, of course be understood that the description and drawing herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the device shown without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, as therein shown is a bath tub of a conventional and well known type in connection with which a shower spray fixture 11 may be employed.

Also, in conjunction with the bath tub, there is provided the usual curtain supporting rod 12 disposed above the outer rim of the bath tub 10 from which rod the curtain is suspended by means of the usual rings or snap hangers 13.

The curtain 20 may be made of any suitable material, preferably of a waterproof and flexible character. Some of the modern plastics in sheet form are quite adaptable for this purpose.

At the lower part of the curtain 20, adjacent the outer rim or edge of the bath tub 10, there is provided, on the inner face of the curtain, a series of spaced pockets 21, each of which is adapted to receive a vertical arm 22 of a V-shaped supporting device shown in detached perspective in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

The other arm 23 of each of the supporting devices is downwardly inclined and extends inwardly over the edge of the bath tub and these arms 23 serve to support an apron 24, which is stitched to the curtain as at 25, and which projects inwardly over the arms 23 of the supporting devices and consequently over the ledge of the bath tub 10.

Provided at the inner edge or hem 25 of the apron 24 is a series of pockets 27 for the reception of the inner ends of the arms 23 of the supporting devices.

By the foregoing arrangement, when the curtain is pulled into position for the use of the shower spray it will be virtually impossible to cause the same to take any position which will prevent the drainage of the water, which is sprayed on the inner surface of the curtain, to any place other than the interior of the bath tub 10.

In the operative position of the curtain 2d, the lower part thereof will be disposed on the outside of the tub 10 and the apron 24 will project over and above the ledge of the tub 10.

However, if through ignorance or carelessness, the lower part of the curtain should be placed within the tub no particular harm will be done, as the apron 24 will continue to function notwithstanding, and thus insure the drainage within the tub of the water which is sprayed on the curtain.

It will be noted that initially, the supporting members may be left out of their respective pockets and the same need only be placed therein when the curtain is set up for use. This will facilitate the packaging of the curtain for shipment and sale.

It will also be noted that the supporting members being located at spaced intervals, when the curtain is retracted to permit access to the tub, the apron will follow the pleating of the main body portion of the curtain by reason of the supporting devices being located at spaced intervals in the pockets provided for that purpose.

I claim:

A shower curtain the lower part of which is disposed on the outside of .a bath tub, an apron secured on the inside of the curtain and projecting inwardly therefrom over and above the ledge of the bath tub, and means for supporting said apron comprising a plurality of separate spaced V-shaped members, each of said members having a vertical arm removably positioned in a pocket in the portion of the curtain which is disposed on the outside of the tub, and having another arm downwardly inclined and extending inwardly with its end removably positioned in a pocket at the inner edge portion of the apron.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,791,696 Alexander Feb. 10, 1931 2,120,155 Shera June 7, 1938 2,556,210 Obenchain June 12, 1951 

